At a Glance

The sea is a friend and a foe, an essential ally and an unyielding adversary. A strong naval force can overcome the sea’s obstacles providing safety and sustenance, protecting merchant and fishing ships and projecting power without physical force. Aboard the illustrious Queen Mary 2, sail from New York to London, where British and American forces clashed and trans-Atlantic trade changed the long-standing status quo, explore the development of maritime power through the Age of Exploration and the naval battles of World War II.

Activity Level

On Your Feet

Walking up to one mile per day. Some stairs at historic sites.

Best of all, you'll ...

Learn about New York City’s role as a prominent port in the New World at South Street Seaport.

Sail down the River Thames on a clipper ship from London to the historic UNESCO sites of Greenwich.

Featured Expert

All Experts

John Harris

John Harris is a maritime historian with a specialist interest in the sailing Navy. He served in the Merchant Navy and Royal Naval Reserve before becoming Steward of Christ Church at the University of Oxford. There he initiated the ‘Conflict’ conference series, popular with Road Scholar participants. He is President of the Oxford Literary Festival. John now lectures on maritime topics on summer schools, battlefield explorations and cruises and has led a number of Road Scholar programs ashore and afloat.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

John Harris

View biography

Suggested Reading List

View 16 books

Atlantic

by Simon Winchester

The subtitle tells it all -- Winchester squeezes "Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories" into the covers of this latest entertaining and digressive tale.

The Theatre, A Concise History

by Phyllis Hartnoll, Enoch Brater (Contributor)

A fully illustrated survey of the theater from the days of the ancient Greeks to today, part of the "World of Art" series.

Eyewitness Guide London

by Eyewitness Guides

This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.

London, A History

by A.N. Wilson

A brief, evocative meditation on the rich and varied history of England's capital city by the prolific British writer, critic and historian. Wilson examines London through several lenses, using humor and insight to discuss art, architecture, politics and culture.

A Traveller's History of London

by Richard Tames

The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.

The Story of England

by Christopher Hibbert

Beautifully illustrated with color pictures, chronological charts, royal genealogies and maps, this popular history of English politics, economics and culture from the Neolithic Age to the 1990s is an excellent travel companion.

A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, 1599

by James S. Shapiro

A dramatic tale of a pivotal year in English history, the life of the bard and the Globe Theatre, resulting in Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and, most likely, Hamlet.

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral

by Robert A. Scott

An enthusiast, Scott delves into the history, design, architecture and wonder of Europe's medieval cathedrals and great Abbey churches.

London Map

by Borch Maps

A colorful and detailed laminated city map with a variety of useful inset maps. Scaled at: 1:15,000.

Londoners

by Craig Taylor

Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.

The Age of Shakespeare

by Frank Kermode

A remarkably concise, elegant overview of the world of Shakespeare in the Modern Library Chronicles series by the eminent British critic and scholar.

Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel

by Jerome Jerome, Jeremy Lewis (Introduction)

Written in 1889, "Three Men in a Boat" (to say nothing of the dog!) is a laugh-out-loud account of a man-powered voyage along the River Thames, full of detail on life and lore. A Longitude favorite.

Mapping Shakespeare's World

by Peter Whitfield

Countering the notion that the location of a Shakespearean play is irrelevant, Whitfield argues that each play’s setting is deliberate and full of meaning that original Elizabethan-era audiences would have understood.

A Journey Through Tudor England

by Suzannah Lipscomb

Through visits to Tudor England’s historic palaces, castles, theaters and abbeys, Suzannah Lipscomb brings to life the rich history of the Tudors.

TransAtlantic

by Colum McCann

National Book Award-winner Colum McCann penned this profound meditation on identity and history that focuses on three Atlantic crossings that connect the US and Canada with Europe.

London, A Literary Anthology

by British Library

Ranging from the 15th century to the present day, the British Library’s generous selection of poems and novel excerpts evokes the spirit of London through the ages. Full-color works of art from the library's collection are interspersed throughout.

Afternoon: Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program will staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who, unless otherwise specified, will lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. Meal Service: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the main restaurants; alternative fine dining options available at additional cost. Water during meals and coffee after meals are complimentary; alcoholic drinks, specialty teas, and coffees available for purchase. Afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes, and pastries served each day. 24 hour room service. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Following the Orientation session we will have a Welcome Reception with drinks for our Road Scholar group.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel and travel by motorcoach to the South Street Seaport Museum, home to a fleet of historic vessels and a treasure-trove of information regarding New York’s crucial role as a port for the New World. We’ll explore the site with our Study Leader before making our way to Brooklyn to board the Queen Mary 2. We will rendezvous at an agreed upon time and place the Group Leader will announce. We will then depart for the pier, complete embarkation procedures, and board the Queen Mary 2.

Lunch: Late lunch aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Afternoon: After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and begin to familiarize yourself with the ship. We will participate with the rest of the passengers in the required Safety Drill before departure, so please listen for the announcement.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant at 6:00 p.m., choose what you like from the menu designed by Cunard’s Global Culinary Ambassador, Jean-Marie Zimmermann, with choices of appetizers and soups, salads, entrées, and desserts; water during dinner and coffee after dinner are included, other beverages available for purchase. Revel in the sumptuous surroundings as you make a dramatic entrance down the grand staircase.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to see a show in the ballroom, watch a movie in the theatre, have a beverage and a chat in one of the bars, or find a book in the library — one of the best shipboard libraries available — and curl up in that perfect reading chair. The choice is yours.

DAY

3

Humankind & The Sea

At Sea

B,L,D

Queen Mary II

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing. The Britannia Restaurant offers choices such as fresh fruit and compote, a variety of breakfast entrées, pancakes and waffles, hot and cold cereals, cold cuts and cheese, yoghurts, a variety of baked goods, juices, coffee, tea, water. Or try the King’s Court casual breakfast on Deck 7. Or relax with breakfast in your room as you watch the televised descriptions of the day’s on-board activities.

Morning: We’ll gather with our Study Leader for our first in a series of on-board lectures. In this introduction to all things maritime, we’ll discuss humanity’s burgeoning relationship with the seas that stretch across our globe and how we became a seafaring, as opposed to a sea-fearing, species.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing. The Britannia Restaurant offers appetizers and soups, salads and sandwiches, main dish entrées, and desserts. The Kings Court has buffet dining, while the Boardwalk Café (weather permitting) has light lunch choices.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You’ll have a variety of shipboard enrichment activities from which to choose. You might like to take a class such as watercolor painting or ballroom dancing, enjoy one of the ship's swimming pools, take a brisk walk around the decks, or continue reading that book. The history of the Cunard Line is displayed in an exhibition running through the halls of the ship.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. You may choose to enjoy a show in the ship’s theatre, practice your dance steps in the ballroom, or simply return to your stateroom and enjoy one of the movies screened on the ship’s TV.

DAY

4

The Mutiny on the Bounty, Shipboard Activities

At Sea

B,L,D

Queen Mary II

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Our lecture this morning will look at the Mutiny on the Bounty, a strange case with even stranger consequences. On an agricultural mission in the south Pacific in the late 18th century, the HMS Bounty of the British Royal Navy enjoyed a lengthy layover on Tahiti. The crew became quite comfortable while there and, when the time came to set sail, many of the crew did so reluctantly only to eventually seize the ship from the captain’s command, sending him and his loyalists adrift in a small boat. The ensuing tale, which was adapted for multiple films, is one of impressive seamanship, justice, and adventure.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing.

Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the variety of shipboard enrichment activities. Weather permitting, you might like to take a leisurely stroll around the Promenade Deck and take in the fresh sea air.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Choose from several kinds of evening entertainment featuring dancing, music, and more.

DAY

5

Slavery, Shipping & Seafarers

At Sea

B,L,D

Queen Mary II

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Gathering in our lecture room, we’ll explore foundations of slavery, the evolution of this appalling trade, its eventual abolition, and its effects not only upon its countless victims, but on seafarers themselves.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing.

Afternoon: Free time. Take advantage of the many educational, social, and physical activities available on board, or simply relax in one of the deck chairs with a view of the Atlantic, glistening when the sun shines.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. You may wish to visit the Queen Mary 2’s beautiful theatre, home to nightly productions from stars of stage and screen alike.

DAY

6

The Birth & Rise of the US Navy

At Sea

B,L,D

Queen Mary II

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Joining our Study Leader, today’s illuminating lecture will focus on the formation and expansion of the US Navy from a small fleet of sailing ships to a dominating force spanning the seven seas.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing.

Afternoon: Free Time. You might grab a ticket for the planetarium show, polish your bridge skills during a tournament, or perhaps retreat to the spa for a massage.

Morning: In another lively discussion this morning, our Study Leader will take us through a potted history of naval accomplishments from the 18th Century to World War II. From the burgeoning forces of the Revolutionary War to the floating cities of World War II, we will examine the technologies and strategies that changed the world.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing.

Afternoon: Free Time. When not performing, members of the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts give you the opportunity to flex your acting muscles at daily workshops.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. From insight and enrichment to sports and fitness, music and theatre, pub entertainment, relaxation and leisure, there is more to do aboard the QM2 than hours in the day.

DAY

8

Final Onboard Lecture, Journeys to Paradise: Pacific Ocean

At Sea

B,L,D

Queen Mary II

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing.

Morning: In our final on-board lecture, we’ll discuss the initial explorations of the Pacific Ocean, its opening of valuable trade routes, the increasing breadth of naval power and the process of making the world a seemingly ever-smaller place.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing.

Afternoon: Free Time. You may wish to explore the history of the Cunard Line at a unique exhibition running through the halls of the ship.

Dinner: In the Britannia Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy your last evening onboard and prepare for docking at the cruise terminal in Southampton in the morning, followed by disembarkation and transfer.

DAY

9

Disembarkation, Historic Dockyards, Transfer to London

London, England

B,D

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Drive to Portsmouth is about 22 miles (35 km); approx. 1/2 hour. Drive to London is approx. 70 miles (112 km); about 3 hours. Walking about 2 miles during group activities, more dependent on personal preference. Some areas of naval base may be difficult for visitors who use wheelchairs, have restricted mobility, or who are visually impaired. Several flights of steep steps and gangways. The Museum is accessible throughout and has a visitor lift.

Breakfast: Early in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: We will complete disembarkation procedures and make our way to the motorcoach for the short drive to Portsmouth and the Royal Historic Dockyard for a field trip led by our Study Leader and an on-site expert. A sprawling tribute to Britain’s Navy, the dockyards contain a selection of museums and historic ships. The most famous of these is the HMS Victory, first launched in 1765 and the oldest commissioned warship in the world, this was the flagship of one of England’s greatest naval heroes, Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, and was this ship on which he succumbed to a bullet wound during the Battle of Trafalgar.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to make recommendations and give directions, and the Royal Historic Dockyards has a number of eateries.

Afternoon: Following our exploration of the dockyard, we’ll make the 70 mile journey to the London hotel for check-in. We’ll have time to unpack, relax and freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: In the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served dinner including coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

10

Historic Dockyard Chatham

London, England

B,L

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel

Activity note: Driving to Chatham is about 32 miles (51 km); approx. 1.5 hours. Walking approximately 2 miles during group activities, more dependent on personal preference. The HMS Cavalier and the submarine, Ocelot, both have restricted access for visitors with mobility difficulties. Alternative virtual video explorations are available.

Morning: Setting out via motorcoach, we’ll travel to Chatham, home of the Historic Dockyard. From the Spanish Armada to the Falklands War, the Dockyard has played an integral part in maintaining Britain’s command of the world’s oceans. Set over 80 acres with over 100 historic buildings and structures, we’ll enjoy an expert-led field trip of the site, after which you will be able to explore specific areas of interest on your own. The site includes three historic warships that have been preserved in their original form, a reconstruction of the working life of the Dockyard, a functioning submarine and much, much more.

Lunch: At the restaurant in Chatham Historic Dockyard, we’ll have plated and served meals with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Our exploration of the Dockyard will continue before returning to the hotel in the mid-afternoon.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

11

HMS Belfast & Imperial War Museum

London, England

B,D

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel

Activity note: Walking about 2 – 3 miles total throughout the day. The HMS Belfast requires climbing up and down ladders to access all 9 decks. There is wheelchair access to the main deck of HMS Belfast but there is no access below deck due to the nature of the ship.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After proceeding to the River Thames close to the Tower of London via motorcoach, we’ll see where the World War II and Korean War cruiser, the HMS Belfast, is moored. After an onboard inspection of this veteran vessel led by an on-site expert and our Study Leader, we’ll transfer to the Imperial War Museum.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Imperial War Museum has on-site eateries and there are other dining choices nearby.

Afternoon: Fronted by an imposing and iconic pair of naval guns, the Imperial War Museum is a perfect opportunity to view naval, air and military exhibits. Particularly notable are the acclaimed World War I galleries. We’ll take some time to explore these various installations independently. We’ll then return to the hotel.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

12

Maritime Greenwich, Thames River

London, England

B,D

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a boat. Extensive walking dependent on personal preference at Greenwich; up to 4 miles. The National Maritime Museum is fully accessible for all mobility levels with a steep incline to access the Royal Observatory.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: For a very special experience today, we’ll take a trip by boat down the winding waters of the Thames River through London to Maritime Greenwich. Passing under Tower Bridge, we’ll be able to view the redeveloped dockland area, as well as the iconic financial center at Canary Wharf. Greenwich itself offers an astonishing collection of maritime attractions and, upon arrival, the exploration itself will begin with an expert-led walk of the Old Royal Naval College site, the Chapel, and the Painted Hall. We’ll then visit the Royal Observatory, the Greenwich Meridian, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House Gallery, and the 1869 Cutty Sark – a copper-bottomed clipper that gleams in her renovated graving dock.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Greenwich. There is a café and a restaurant at the National Maritime Museum.

Afternoon: Our full-day exploration of the fascinating site at Greenwich will continue before returning to the hotel by motorcoach.

Dinner: In the hotel, we’ll enjoy a farewell 3-course dinner with tea, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

30 Meals

12 Breakfasts

8 Lunches

10 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance:

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

The Millenium Hilton hotel is conveniently located in Lower Manhattan right in the heart of New York City’s bustling financial district within easy reach of Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty. The hotel is located just a few steps from the National 9/11 Memorial and is surrounded by the renowned New York neighborhoods of SoHo, Tribeca and Greenwich Village.

The stylish, 17-deck grand ocean liner, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 represents the pinnacle of maritime achievement. Affectionately known as the QM2, it is 1,132 feet long and 131 feet wide, and is capable of carrying 2,691 passengers. Indulge in state-of-the-art facilities that include a 3D cinema, planetarium, library, spa and casino.